DepEd denies take back of public school teachers’ gadgets

FILE PHOTO: A public school teacher shows a laptop issued by the Department of Education. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday said it is not true that it ordered public school teachers to give back the gadgets issued to them by the agency.

“Just spoke to our Regional Director for [National Capital Region]. No order was made to return gadgets,” DepEd told reporters in a message.

DepEd’s remark came after the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized the agency for alleged moves to take back devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones of public school teachers in Zamboanga del Sur, Camarines Norte, Quezon City, Malabon City, and Cebu City.

The gadgets were issued by the DepEd to the teachers during the implementation of distance learning.

But since full face-to-face classes are set to start on November 2, ACT claimed that public school teachers were directed to return the electronic devices supposedly pursuant to DepEd Memorandum No. 00-420-0029 reportedly issued by the Office of the Undersecretary for Administration.

“Hindi na nga makapagbigay ng sapat at matinong laptops ang DepEd, ngayon ay babawiin pa ang devices na ginagamit ng mga guro,” ACT chairperson Vladimer Quetua said in a statement.

(DepEd was not able to provide enough decent laptops, and now they want it back.)

“Dagdag na problema ang ibinibigay nila sa mga guro na mawawalan ng magagamit na devices para maghanda ng leksyon, gumawa ng report at gumampan ng mga online tasks,” he also said.

(They will give more problems to teachers who will lose devices that they use to prepare lessons, make reports, and accomplish online tasks.)

According to ACT,  the retrieval of laptops was said to take place at Ernesto Rondon High School in Quezon City on November 4.

The same has been done at Jose Panganiban National High School in Camarines Norte and Abellana National High School in Cebu City, the ACT added.

Meanwhile, gadgets issued to teachers in Zamboanga del Sur should allegedly be returned from November 2 to 4.

As the DepEd denied giving such an order to public school teachers in Metro Manila, it said that it would look into the matter in other areas.

“Our [Schools Division Superintendent] for [Quezon City] and Malabon also confirmed na walang ganyan (that there is no such thing). We will wait for info from the other areas mentioned.” DepEd said.

Quetua then urged the government to respond to the teachers’ needs and asked DepEd to be responsible for their shortcomings.

“Ang gusto naming marinig mula sa pamahalaan, paano na bibigyan ng hustisya ang mga guro kaugnay ng mga overpriced at outdated laptop deal,” he noted.

(What we want to hear from the government is how they will give justice to teachers amid the overpriced and outdated laptop deal.)

READ: DepEd exec: No legal basis in procurement of pricey, outdated laptops

“Ano na ang plano para mabigyan ng laptop at internet allowance ang mga guro na ilang taong nang bumabalikat ng gastusin dito? Kailan na nila tutugunan ang kanilang responsibilidad?” he asked.

(What is their plan to give laptop and internet allowance to teachers who shoulder these expenses for years? When will they do their responsibilities?)

—Kristelle Anne Razon, trainee

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